First, let me briefly introduce my background: I am a Master’s student in Internal Medicine at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM), and I extended my graduation by one year. As a result, I spent two years job hunting—2022 and 2023—two years that differed significantly from each other. One key reason is that the pandemic ended in 2023; another is that 2023 marked the first graduating cohort following the nationwide expansion of graduate enrollment. Therefore, my job-hunting experience is relatively extensive, and my insights into the current employment landscape are grounded in firsthand experience—my perceptions are thus quite deep.
Let me preface this by saying: everything I describe reflects only my personal information or impressions, and does not necessarily apply to all situations or individuals.
From my perspective, job hunting unfolded in three phases.
Understanding the Market Landscape
The first phase is understanding the market landscape. After all, the overall market determines the realistic conditions most ordinary job seekers face—including salary levels. Of course, exceptions exist: some individuals manage to thrive regardless of—or even contrary to—the prevailing downward trend. But such cases are extremely rare, and honestly, they rarely stem solely from individual effort.
For most of us, what should we examine when assessing the market? Primarily hospital recruitment criteria and offered salaries.
Based on my personal observations, geographic differentiation begins with the four established first-tier cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. These cities boast prosperity, convenient transportation, and top-tier salaries. Additionally, opportunities for household registration (hukou) make them many people’s top choices. Yet, these advantages come with significant drawbacks: high competition due to massive applicant volume; high cost of living and sky-high housing prices commensurate with higher salaries. Post-probation salaries at hospitals in these cities generally start at ¥250,000+ per year (pre-tax), varying across institutions and departments—with peaks reaching ¥350,000+. Typically, Shenzhen offers the highest pay, while Beijing ranks lowest. Still, “high” here is relative: although salaries exceed those elsewhere, they hardly offset local housing costs. While living expenses are elevated, they remain generally manageable; the real challenge lies in housing—renting is expensive, buying outright is prohibitively so—and fierce competition. In urban core hospitals, doctoral degrees are typically the minimum requirement, though emergency medicine, pediatrics, smaller hospitals, or contract-based positions (without hukou or formal编制) may accept master’s graduates. Large hospitals are extremely busy (repeated thrice for emphasis). Alternatively, community hospitals usually offer编制 and hukou, lighter workloads, no performance pressure, and government-guaranteed base salaries around ¥200,000/year. Downsides include limited career advancement and stagnant wages—essentially, you plateau soon after joining.
Next come the “new first-tier” cities—Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xi’an, etc. Urban infrastructure here is also impressive, especially in southern Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. Salary ranges vary widely—not just regionally but significantly based on hospital revenue. Coastal cities generally outpay inland ones, yet high-performing hospitals in central/western China can rival coastal counterparts. Top salaries easily reach ¥200,000+, though I’ve heard of offers near ¥100,000—ultimately depending on city, hospital, and department. Recruitment standards: provincial-level hospitals in urban centers typically require doctorates; municipal hospitals often accept master’s graduates. Competition remains intense—but less so than in Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Shenzhen. Notably, Henan Province stands out (and is frankly my biggest gripe): despite its strengths, its enormous population creates absurdly high competition, making job hunting exceptionally difficult. I frequently advise my Henan classmates to consider opportunities elsewhere.
Below this tier lie second- and third-tier cities plus county-level municipalities—I won’t detail each individually. Generally, educational requirements range from bachelor’s to master’s degrees, and salaries vary enormously: I’ve seen municipal hospitals offering ~¥100,000/year alongside county hospitals paying ¥200,000+. Two points warrant attention: First, southern Jiangsu and Zhejiang consistently offer better compensation and superior urban/county infrastructure—thanks to robust local finances. Second, certain smaller cities or county governments implement talent-introduction policies, providing subsidies (ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of RMB) for master’s and doctoral graduates. Disbursement methods vary: often partial cash (monthly/annual installments) plus housing subsidies (released only after fulfilling service tenure and purchasing property). For candidates from modest backgrounds without aspirations to settle in megacities, such packages offer excellent cost-benefit ratios. However, verify whether subsidies are credible commitments—e.g., contingent upon achieving unrealistic performance benchmarks post-hire. Seek reliable intelligence: contact peers locally (don’t hesitate to leverage even tenuous connections—offer a meal or small token of appreciation if needed). If prior recruits mostly departed shortly after hiring, the policy likely lacks substance—pivot promptly.
Clarifying Personal Priorities
After grasping general salary ranges and recruitment criteria, proceed to Step Two: clearly define your job priorities—what kind of role do you seek, and what’s your absolute minimum acceptable option? Examples include securing Beijing hukou, staying close to family, or maximizing take-home pay—all entirely valid. If multiple priorities compete, rank them: identify your non-negotiable top priority versus flexible trade-offs. This step seems simple but proves challenging—especially for fresh graduates constrained by limited experience and perspective. Many remain unclear about their true needs or long-term goals; moreover, preferences shift easily (e.g., craving big-city life this month, hometown proximity next month). For such ambivalence, I recommend listing all options explicitly. Remember: no commitment exists until signing a contract. Consult senior peers already employed—learn about real-life conditions under different scenarios. If uncertainty persists, shortlist multiple options and explore them concurrently. Securing interviews is prerequisite to choice: abundant suitable roles mean nothing if you’re uncompetitive. Interviews themselves yield invaluable insights—assess fit beyond surface metrics. (Pro tip: During interviews, engage warmly with fellow candidates—local insiders often share candid realities. Conversely, HR personnel’s claims merit skepticism: treat ≤50% as factual—this is hard-won wisdom from peers’ bitter experiences.) With market awareness and self-knowledge, roughly gauge your competitiveness. If uncertain, lower initial expectations—secure an entry-level position first, then pursue better opportunities.
Submitting Applications & Interviewing
Having clarified market realities and personal priorities, it’s time to act—the final job-hunting phase. Cast a wide net—but avoid blind mass-applying (“spray-and-pray”). It wastes immense energy: crafting applications takes time, and declining unwanted interviews squanders effort. Instead, prioritize volume within your predefined criteria.
Where to find postings? WeChat official accounts and recruitment groups offer convenience. Alternatively, scour official provincial/municipal HR websites. For targeted locations, directly search hospitals—visit their websites or call HR departments. This direct approach sometimes yields unexpected results.
Upon application acceptance, prepare for written exams or interviews. With the pandemic over, most interviews are now in-person. Reserve ample time—ideally 1–2 months. “Reserving time” doesn’t mean idleness: travel and hotel stays during exams create pockets of downtime—use them productively. Complete lab work or school-bound tasks early; analyze data or revise manuscripts during exam breaks.
Exam preparation varies: Written tests cover broad, unpredictable scopes with scarce past papers—trust your foundational knowledge. Interviews, however, merit focused prep. Distinguish between structured and unstructured formats:
- Structured interviews follow fixed patterns—online courses help significantly (lacking exposure puts you at a disadvantage; I failed mine in Year One).
- Unstructured interviews focus on your specialty—prepare 2–3 common Western/TCM disease questions per target department. Beyond that, outcomes hinge on luck.
Crucially, maintain composure. Don’t despair over isolated failures—too many variables affect results: random question selection, your physical/mental state, examiner biases (e.g., favoring confident, fluent speakers), or even predetermined outcomes. I’ve witnessed candidates rank #1 at one hospital and last at another—same person, same day. Never let one score erode confidence; your worth isn’t defined by others’ judgments.
In summary: align applications with your priorities, attend numerous written exams and interviews. Often, only on-site visits reveal whether you’d truly thrive there—jobs span years, even decades. Final decisions hinge not just on salary/career growth but also on long-term livability: climate, environment, food, daily habits. These intangibles emerge only through firsthand experience—which is why I urge exploring diverse locations. You might fall in love with a city—and it might reciprocate.
Final Note
I’m admittedly lazy—I’d often abandon writing mid-flow, nearly scrapping this entirely. But when my junior classmate asked for job-hunting advice, I realized I could contribute value by sharing my reflections and hard-earned lessons. Some specifics remain unmentioned (intentionally vague or omitted for brevity), but hopefully this helps. Wishing everyone success in landing fulfilling roles.
Authorization
Authorized by @Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Wang Li
